Palacios, Montieth break American records on third day of USATF Masters Champs

7/16/2016

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- In another eventful day of USATF Masters Outdoor Championships, Masters athletes broke numerous American records on day three of performances, including a record that has been intact since 1980.

Antonio Palacios (Bloomington, Indiana) set a M50 American record in the men’s long jump, leaping 6.48m/21-3 on his final attempt to break the current mark of 6.42m/21-0.75 by Shirley Davisson in 1980. Palacios, the M45-49 indoor long jump World record holder had the winning jump going into his final attempt, and used the crowd’s energy to soar past yet another record.

“This is the hardest I have ever had to work to pull this one out, and I really had to rely on the crowd to do it,” Palacios said of the exuberant crowd. “When I got to the [long jump] board it was just give it everything for everybody. It’s really an honor.”

David Montieth (Ridgefield, Connecticut) set a M70 American record in the men’s high jump, clearing a mark of 1.58m/5-2.25 Saturday. The current record of 1.57m/5-1.75 was set by John Dobroth at the 2011 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships. Monteith’s field series was clean until his first attempt at the winning height, where he nicked the bar on his way down. Monteith easily cleared his second attempt at 1.58m, thus setting the M70 American record.

The 10,000m race was an unusual event for marathoner Lisa Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) who competed on the track for the first time. Lucas, an experienced road-racer, brought her talent to the track, winning the W50-54 10k in 38:15.71. Lucas’ consistent pace put her near Kathy Martin’s American record of 37:12.23, and earned her gold in the event.

Watch all of the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships available on-demand on USATF.TV +PLUS (races posted shortly after completed), and join the conversation by following #USATF onTwitter,Facebook andInstagram.